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| Bishop Speaks | ||
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| May 8, 2008 Edition | ||
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Dear Friends,
Recently we bishops received a directive from the Vatican, more precisely from the Congregation for the Clergy, to provide for structured Eucharistic Adoration throughout the diocese, specifically for the intention of the sanctification of priests and seminarians, that as priests we might continue to grow in number, but more importantly, grow in holiness.
It is all too easy to slip into the notion that prayer is less powerful than in fact it is. We are told often to make every activity, every joy, and every suffering of our human lives into an act of prayer, so that we pray constantly. I know my own imperfection in this area and I know too that because of our human weakness I am not alone. We must remember, however, that prayer before our Eucharistic Lord is particularly powerful and that prayer will be answered.
In the coming days I will be asking our pastors for an update as to what is actually happening in terms of Eucharistic Adoration in our various parishes. I know from looking at the schedule in the Catholic Herald that much good is already being accomplished in this area. What the Holy See is asking is for a structured approach that will make the opportunity for Eucharistic Adoration readily available, within a reasonable distance, for every Catholic disciple of Jesus Christ in our diocese.
Once I have a better notion of what actually is happening - and I know that it is very good - in discussion with our Priests' Council, we will proceed. The Holy See has asked us, in due time, to send a report on what is happening and on the further steps that we are taking, to the Congregation for Clergy.
The holiness of our priests, in the first place, and their increase in number are intentions in desperate need of our prayer. So, I pray that you will respond to this desperate need with your customary generous heart.
Since it is the month of May, which belongs in a special and beautiful way to Our Lady, I would also invite and strongly urge you to pray the Rosary during a regular period of Eucharistic Adoration. We should never forget that in meditating on the Mysteries of the Rosary: the Joyful Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, the Glorious Mysteries, and the Luminous Mysteries - with which Pope John Paul the Great enriched our Church's prayer - we are focused on Christ, who is always our Eucharistic Lord. As we meditate on those mysteries and repeat the "Hail Mary," Our Lady intercedes for us with the Lord, that we might better understand each mystery and meet Him in a powerful way, as we ponder each mystery.
So, I would urge you all to more regular Eucharistic Adoration and, especially during this month of May, to the practice of praying the Rosary, that together these two spiritual exercises might extend the fruits of the Mass and focus your attention, your mind and heart completely, on our Eucharistic Lord. Needless to say, your participation at Sunday Mass will be deepened and enlivened by taking advantage of the opportunity to pray before the Eucharist and enjoy the Mass in meditation, prolonged through times of adoration.
I know that I never pray "enough," and actually that is usually the first sin that I confess when I approach the Sacrament of Penance. Prayer is so very powerful and our Holy Father, through the Congregation for the Clergy, is telling us that the sanctification, the holiness, of priests and the increase in number of holy priests depends so much on prayer. Taking advantage of the momentum which we experienced as a result of the Holy Father's pastoral visit, let us respond, as I said, with our customarily generous hearts, to the need which he so clearly has pointed out to us.
And let us pray fervently during this month of May to the Queen of the Apostles and the Mother of Priests that she will intercede for our growth in holiness. Our Blessed Mother sees, in each priest, one who stands in the person of Jesus, her Son, and therefore our prayers before the Eucharist for Her intercession in this regard surely will be very powerful indeed!
Thank you for reading this. God bless you and your loved ones, and may we all have a very holy month of May.
Praised be Jesus Christ!